Government confirms new training opportunities

The government has confirmed that over 18,000 new specialty medical training opportunities will become available in 2007 throughout England. These training prospects will accompany the structure newly introduced through the modernising medical careers (MMC) programme.

MMC encompasses reform of specialist medical training that aims to better educate and train doctors improve patient care and deliver further NHS services.

According to provisional data from the Royal Colleges, there will be 5,800 general practice vacancies, 2,980 in medicine, 2,235 in surgery and 1,485 in anaesthetics.

Lord Warner, health minister, said: “Doctors in training in England should consequently be pretty confident about securing a training post.

“Of course, as recruitment is competitive not everyone will be able to have their first choice specialty or location, but this has always been the case.”

He added that the vacancies for each location and each specialty will be assigned according to patient need and the requirements of the NHS.

MMC has formed two-year foundation schools designed to assess doctor’s abilities against set standards and offer them the opportunity to develop their experience in specialist areas.